Public Defender

Salary: $104,942.88 - $147,433.68 Annually
Location : City of Spokane, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Job Number:
Department: Public Defender
Opening Date: 10/05/2026
Closing Date: 11/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

CLASS SUMMARY

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE:
Represent eligible people facing a loss of liberty from criminal charges within the City of Spokane. Be an independent voice that promotes justice and equity for clients and advocates for their objectives, interests, and dignity. Seek to address racial disproportionality in the local criminal legal system on issues of incarceration and sentencing, eligibility for programmatic alternatives and case resolution.

POSITION PURPOSE:
Provide responsible supervisory work in the administration and direction of the City Public Defender's Office. This office handles misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors charged under the Spokane Municipal Code for persons who are determined to be indigent and unable to afford to hire private counsel.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
Work has a substantial amount of independence in the Public Defender's Office. Employee provides supervision to public defenders, law clerks, legal interns, and clerical staff.
EXAMPLES OF JOB FUNCTIONS

The following Responsibilities and Requirements are functions the individual who holds or desires the position must be able to perform unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide oversight for all employment related matters within the department.
• Prepare and administer departmental budget.
• Prepare and administer departmental grant applications and requirements.
• Maintain the integrity of representation of indigent clients in the courts.
• Represent indigent clients' and defenders' interests on various law and law-related boards and committees.
• Handle inquiries from City Administration, City Council, judges, various agencies, and the media.
• Assigns, tracks, and reviews caseloads of staff with particular attention to compliance with statewide standards.
• Perform related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Criminal law and practices and procedures of City government.
• Performance Management concepts, principals, and practices related to employee performance.

ABILITY TO:

• Express legal concepts in clear and concise language to the media, City Council, and Public.
• Influence, motivate, and challenge others; adapt leadership styles to a variety of situations.
• Manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work well under pressure.
• Adapt to other duties as assigned and prioritize, organize, and plan work as needed to meet objectives.
• Work cooperatively with others and maintain positive relationships.

SKILL IN:

• Employee development and performance management.
• Criminal law practice to include courtroom advocacy, forensic and psychological experts and issues, and legal research and writing.
• Effectively dealing with people from varied backgrounds and different situations who are difficult, hostile, or distressed while being sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and other individual differences.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination equivalent to the experience and education that would likely provide the relevant knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. Generally, this will include:

EDUCATION:

• Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association or completion of the Washington State APR 6 Law Clerk Program.

EXPERIENCE:

• 8 years experience in the practice of law; and
• 3 years of supervisory experience
• 2 years of criminal defense experience

LISENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is conducted primarily in an office setting. Frequent attendance at meetings to include some irregular hours and potential out-of-town travel may be required. Incumbents in this position are expected to communicate verbally, in-person and by telephone and remote computer access. A computer terminal is used and requires the use of repetitive arm movements.

BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS
As an exempt employee of the City of Spokane, the Director of Neighborhood, Housing & Human Services is subject to the City's Code of Ethics set forth in Chapter 1.04A of the Spokane Municipal Code. As such, "it is the policy of the City of Spokane to uphold, promote, and demand the highest standards of ethics from all of its employees who shall maintain the utmost standards of responsibility, trustworthiness, integrity, truthfulness, honesty and fairness in carrying out their public duties, avoid any improprieties in their roles as a public servant including the appearance of impropriety, and never use their City position, authority or resources for personal gain."

EXAMINATION DETAILS
INSURANCE BENEFITS

Eligibility: Coverage begins for new hires and their dependents on the first day of the month following 30 consecutive days of employment.

Eligible Dependents: Spouse or Domestic Partner, birth, adopted children or children placed for adoption, Domestic Partner's children, step-children who live with employee, and any child for whom employee is legal guardian or for whom coverage is required by a Qualified Medical Support Order. Adult children under age 26 are eligible.

Medical
Qualified employees may select from two health carrier options; a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) administered by Kaiser Permanente or a Preferred Provider Option (PPO) administered by Premera Blue Cross. The monthly premium varies dependent upon plan and coverage level selected.
Vision
Vision coverage is included in the medical plan selected. Costs for eye exams and hardware; lenses, frames or contacts varies depending on the medical plan selected.

Dental
Dental insurance is provided by Delta Dental of Washington. The monthly premium is minimal for employee and eligible dependents.

Life Insurance - Employee Only
Basic Term Life Insurance is provided at one-and-a-half times the employee's annual base salary to a maximum of $150,000. The City pays the monthly premium in full.

Life Insurance - Eligible Dependent(s)
Basic Term Life Insurance is provided at $7,500 for spouse/domestic partner and $3,000 for each child. The City pays the monthly premium in full.

Long-Term Disability Insurance
Long-Term Disability Insurance is provided by The Standard. The City pays the monthly premium in full.
Flexible Spending Account
The City offers two optional Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) - Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA. The Health Care FSA allows an employee to use pre-tax dollars to receive reimbursement for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses. The Dependent Care FSA allows an employee to receive reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses for dependent children up to age 13 and other eligible dependents as defined by IRS Code.

AFLAC
Supplemental insurance is optional and is provided by AFLAC to help pay benefits that major medical insurance does not cover. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium.

AudioNet Hearing Aid Benefit
AudioNet Hearing Aid Benefit is optional. The City of Spokane has partnered with AudioNet America to offer a discounted Hearing Aid Program with fixed out-of-pocket costs.

LegalShield/ID Shield
Prepaid legal services and/or prepaid identity theft programs are optional. These programs pay for a limited number of documents to be reviewed, limited trial defense representation, the preparation of a standard will, identity theft consultation, restoration and monitoring according to terms of contract.

Pet Insurance
Get cash back on the everyday care your pet needs to stay healthy! Nationwide/Voluntary Pet Insurance is an optional plan in which City of Spokane Employees can enroll.

Voluntary Term Life Insurance
Voluntary Term Life Insurance is optional and is provided through The Standard Insurance Company and is subject to application review and approval. Additional coverage up to $300,000 is available for employees and their spouse/domestic partner. Dependent children can be insured for up to $10,000 each. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium.

Continued Medical/Dental Insurance
Employees separating from City service have the option to continue medical and/or dental insurance benefits in accordance with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium in addition to a small monthly administrative fee.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Spokane Employees' Retirement System
The Spokane Employees' Retirement System (SERS) is a defined benefit pension plan covering non-uniformed, permanent employees. As a participant, you contribute 11% of your salary toward your retirement. Contributions and earnings are tax-deferred. The City also contributes 11% of your salary toward your retirement. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2015 become vested (eligible for a monthly benefit at retirement age) at seven years of service.

Deferred Compensation
Enrollment in the City-sponsored 457 Deferred Compensation Plan administered by MissionSquare Retirement allows participants, on a voluntary basis, to defer a portion of their salary on a before or after tax basis. Contributions and associated earnings contributed on a before tax basis are eligible to receive City matching contributions and are tax deferred (not taxed until taken out). You can also choose to participate in the 457 Roth (after tax) contribution option. You may enroll in the 457 plan or change your contribution at any time. Minimum contribution is $15 per paycheck up to and is subject to the IRS annual limitations. The City will match employee contributions up to $200/month.
PAID TIME OFF

Official Holidays
The City observes seven official holidays as paid. An official holiday that falls on a Saturday will be observed on the preceding Friday. An official holiday that falls on a Sunday will be observed on the Monday immediately following. The City observes Martin Luther King Jr's birthday but has not declared that day as an official holiday. For this reason, employees hired before the third Monday of January receive an additional eight hours of floating holiday time to be used in accordance with Spokane Managerial and Professional Association Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions.

Personal Leave
Employees hired by January 15th receive forty (40) hours of personal leave, between January 16th and March 31st receive thirty (30) hours, between April 1st and June 30th receive twenty (20) hours, and employees hired between July 1st and September 30th receive ten (10) hours. If hired after September 30th no personal leave is received. Personal Leave may not be carried over into the next year and any unused hours will not be paid at termination.
Floating Holidays
48 hours of Floating Holidays to be used as of January 1st. Floating holiday hours may not be carried over into the next year and any unused hours will not be paid at termination.

Vacation Leave
Employees earn paid vacation hours each pay period. The number of hours earned depends upon the employee's length of employment and the number of hours in a pay status. Vacation accrual ranges from 12 days per year for a new employee to 20 days per year after 11 years of employment. Unused vacation hours carry over each year but are subject to maximum accrual amounts in accordance with Spokane Managerial and Professional Association Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions.

Sick Leave
Sick leave accrues at a rate of six (6) hours per biweekly pay period. Employees must be in paid status for 80% of that pay period to accrue sick leave. Unused sick leave hours carry over each year.

Other Leaves
The City also provides several other paid and unpaid leaves, such as: bereavement leave, Family and Medical Leave, maternity leave, jury duty, and military duty leave.
WORK/LIFE PROGRAMS

Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a referral and counseling service administered by Deer Oaks. It provides a myriad of services to employees and their household members. Services include receiving confidential assistance for personal issues, such as managing stress, depression, parenting, alcohol/drugs, grief, etc. Each household member is eligible to receive up to eight counseling sessions per issue per year at no charge. There is also a benefit relating financial or legal concerns in addition to Worklife/Convenience services and online tools.

Employer Sponsored Bus Pass (ESBP) Program
The City of Spokane encourages employees to use alternatives to driving alone to work and participates in the ESBP Program offered by Spokane Transit Authority (STA). The program provides employees a bus pass for unlimited rides free of charge.
Revised March 15, 2022
01

Have you graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association or completion of the Washington State APR 6 Law Clerk Program?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have 8 years' experience in the practice of law; 2 years criminal defense